St. Paul daily globe., 1887-10-30
THE UNION DEPOT LINGUIsT.
and an Important Enterprise---A
Tribute to a Worthy Citizen.

Tribute to a Worthy Citizen.
"Your observation is correct: this is
indeed great place for the study of
human nature, and especially the comic
side of life," replied the fluent lin
guist who calls off the trains at the
union depot in response to query yes
terday. ''And this reminds me-"
resumed the same gifted individ-
ual, ''that we are putting on some
additional style just now. What's that.
1t comes high? Well, yes; it is little
OH the perpendicular, but in our busi-
ness, you know, we have to have it,
With this reflection the aforesaid affabIe
gentleman proceeded to announce to a
waiting multitude that the train for
Hudson, Baraboo, Oshkosh and other
classic points was abont to take its de-
parture.
The admiration of the writer. together
with that of the thousands who daily
throng the union depot, was here di-
rected to the beautifully inlaid and har-
mOniously variegated brand-new tiling
which number of artisans were en-
gagged in placing Oh the floor of the
depot, and which was the occasion of
the admiration mark above quoted.
As remarked by a spectator, the
patterns are symphony i'm white, choc-
Olate, salmon and drab, the colors
being delightfully."- eommingled. Con-
sidered either artiStically, or from the
standpoint of mere economy and utility,
this tiling, if not joy forever, is en-
| titled to rank as a thing of beauty for a
good many long and continuous seasons.
In this connection few words about a
very important enterprise, and a brief
bit of biography is in order. The work
| alluded to was furnished and put down
by the Pennsylvania Slate company, of
st. Paul. The headquarters of the con-
| Germ are at No. lat East Sixth street,
adjoining the Ryan hotel. and the pre-
siding genius, and in fact the originator
| of this and other creditable institutions
is Robert A. Hirst, the vice president
and manager, his able associates being
| MeSSrs. j. M. BOhrer. president, and
Mark Z. Bohrer. secretary. The names
OF these gentlemen are as favOrably
| familiar to majority of the residents
of st. Paul as household words. 1t was
through the direct influence of Mr..
Hirst, OF genial, good looking Bob, as he
| is called. that the st. Paul School Fur
| nlture company was induced to build
its immense factory for the manufact-
ure of school furniture at st. Anthony
Park. In connection with his own busl-
ness the latter saw the constant demand
and ready market for school
interiors of all kinds, and the
factory referred to, which now employs
over 100 mechanics, was the result OF
his progressive ideas. But these are
only pin-feathers in the cap of his enter
prise and landable ambition. A equally,
| if not more important branch of his
business than floor tiling, is the roof
Stating and slate blackboard department
OF his firm. MI. Hirst is something
more than mere rustler, and that he
possesses the qualities of great COM
mercial sagacity is evidenced by the
manner in which he has developed the
extensive plant in the short period of
four years. With no material but his
own indomitable enterprise and pluck
his efforts have been crowned in man
ner for beyond his expectations. And
this, it will be remembered, is the only
exclusive slate roofing concern in st,
Paul, the credit for which aud the devel-
opment of this important and now in
dispensable industry in the Northwest
| belonging to Mr.. Hirst ana his assOi-
| ates., The magnitude of the slate roof
ing done by this firm is immense. Al